Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 320’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘SUN 320’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; single-type inflorescences with dark red purple-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUN 320’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SUN 320’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Argyranthemum plants with attractive ray and disc floret colors and good garden performance and pest resistance.

The new Argyranthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2011 in Glandorf, Germany of two unnamed seedling selections of Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented. The new Argyranthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in July, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum plant by vegetative tip cuttings was first conducted in Glandorf, Germany in March, 2013. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Argyranthemum plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUN 320’ as a new and distinct Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Single-type inflorescences with dark red purple-colored ray         florets.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in plant size and uniformity.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Percussion Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of the new Argyranthemum differed from plants of ‘Percussion Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum and ‘Percussion Red’ differed         in leaf color.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Argyranthemum and         ‘Percussion Red’ differed in ray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Argyranthemum showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Argyranthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SUN 320’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘SUN 320’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany under cultural practices typical of commercial potted Argyranthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 28° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 25 klux to 90 klux. Plants were pinched one time three to four weeks after planting and were 2.5 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens ‘SUN 320’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 8 to 10 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 15 days at             temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 16             days at temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 to 20             days at temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, fibrous;             white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous; compact and uniform             mounding plant habit; upright to broadly spreading form;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching growth habit with about             nine lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy             plant form; pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 31.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12.1 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Internode length: About 9 mm. Strength: Strong; young             stems, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             145B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Pinnatisect; in outline, obovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Pinnatifid; laciniate.         -   Sinuses.—Parallel to slightly convergent.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly leathery.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138A; venation, close to 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence form and arrangement.—Single-type terminal and             axillary inflorescences borne above and beyond the foliar             plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 126             inflorescences develop per plant.         -   Flowering season.—Plants flower from spring to late summer             in Germany; flowering continuous during this period.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two weeks             on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             8 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Towards the base,             close to 137D; mid-section, close to 199D and 160D; towards             the apex, close to 175A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.3 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.8 cm. Receptacle             diameter: About 5 mm. Receptacle height: About 4 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 32 arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.7 cm.             Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovate to oblong; slightly             reflexed. Apex: Obtuse to shallowly retuse. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 62B to 62C; towards the apex, close to 61B. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 59D. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 60B to 60C; color becoming closer to 60A. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 60C.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 200 massed at center of receptacle. Length: About             6 mm. Diameter, apex: About 2 mm. Diameter, base: About             0.75 mm. Shape: Tubular. Apex: Five-pointed; acute. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature: Base: Close to 145C.             Mid-section: Close to 153D. Apex: Close to 12A; at the apex,             close to 175A to 175B. Color, mature: Base: Close to 145C.             Mid-section: Close to 153D. Apex: Close to 12A; margins,             close to 175A to 175B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 24 arranged in two whorls. Length: About 5 mm. Width:             About 2.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; margins, papery. Color, upper surface:             Close to 144B; margins, close to 199D. Color, lower surface:             Close to 143A; margins, close to 199D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5.2 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 5.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect to about 40° from vertical. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 12A.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A.             Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil             length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color:             Close to 12A. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close             to 144A; towards the apex, close to 60C. Ovary color: Close             to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Argyranthemum. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Argyranthemum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 320’ as illustrated and described. 